Utah Royals sign former San Diego DF Madison Pogarch to two-year deal

The 26-year-old defender who won titles with the Wave and Portland Thorns joins the expansion side in Utah as a free agent for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The Utah Royals family is expanding.

Utah’s NWSL expansion side for the 2024 season announced the addition of former San Diego Wave defender Madison Pogarch via free agency Thursday, bringing the veteran defensive presence to the Wasatch Front under contract for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The native of Hartland, Michigan played in 36 matches over the past five years for the Wave and Portland Thorns, including helping San Diego win the 2023 NWSL Shield last year.

Pogarch made her NWSL debut May 25, 2019 and since then has won the NWSL Shield twice (Portland, 2019) as well as the 2020 Community Shield, 2021 Challenge Cup and 2021 International Champions Cup in a five-year career following a standout collegiate career at Central Michigan and Rutgers.

The 5-foot-6 defender also won a United Women’s Soccer championship with Grand Rapids FC while playing semiprofessionally in 2017 during a four-year collegiate career that included three goals in 58 appearances with the Chippewas before transferring to Rutgers for her senior season and now joins Utah in its first season under first-time head coach Amy Rodriguez.

After helping the Thorns to the NWSL Shield in 2019, Pogarch was traded to San Diego in July 2022 and made an immediate impact on the back line with 19 clearances, nine interceptions and five blocks with an 80% tackle success rate in eight games, including three starts. That earned her a two-year contract with the Wave through the 2023 season.

“I’m very excited for this day to arrive, it’s been in the works for a bit and to have it finally come together is a nice early Christmas present,” said Pogarch, who also represented the United States’ U-23 side at the 2019 Nordic Tournament. “I was fairly new to the league when the Utah Royals were around before, but I remember playing against Amy; the passion she has for the game you can’t help but see it in how she played and now in everything she does. 

“Amy’s prowess in this game is evident with her playing at a high level for as long as she has, and now bringing that experience to build this team. In talking to Amy, the conversations that we have had stem from her being super-competitive, obviously wanting to do whatever it takes to win from the get-go. Nothing about this setup feels like an expansion team to me, as everyone I’ve talked to around the team is ready to hit the ground running, and that’s exciting.”

The defender nicknamed “Po” joins a roster that includes inaugural Royals signing and Kaysville native Mikayla (Colohan) Cluff from Orlando, former BYU star Michele Vasconcelos, North Carolina teammates Emily Gray and Frankie Tagliaferri, former league rookie of the year Imani Dorsey from Gotham FC, and defender Kaleigh Riehl, who also helped San Diego claim the NWSL Shield in 2023.

“We continue to be so elated to give our players the opportunity to shine and grow as we establish the foundation here in Utah,” Utah Royals sporting director Kelly Cousins said. “Madison’s effusive attitude has contributed mightily to winning atmospheres throughout her journey, and we look to her to help us create that positive, winning, supportive culture in our locker room, in training every day and in the community.” 

Utah can continue to add players via free agency until Tuesday, Dec. 12, when a three-day transaction moratorium will be put into effect across the league prior to the NWSL expansion draft, Friday, Dec. 15 featuring the Royals and Northern California side Bay FC.

The annual NWSL draft will be held Friday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. MT during the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Anaheim, California. Coverage will be available on ION, with every round being streamed online at ION Plus.